The POTS medical abbreviation stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a condition in which the heart rate rises sharply when a person stands up, along with symptoms such as lightheadedness, a pounding heartbeat, fatigue and trouble thinking clearly. Lying down usually eases the symptoms.
POTS is a form of dysautonomia, a problem with the autonomic nervous system, which controls automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure and blood vessel tightening. It is seen most often in teenagers and adults under fifty, more often in women. The full name above answers the question of what is the medical term for POTS, and the condition is sometimes called postural tachycardia syndrome for short.
At a glance
Stands for
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndromeCategory
A form of dysautonomia, an autonomic nervous system disorderUsual test
Tilt table test or a standing test with repeated heart rate checksTypical adult finding
Heart rate rise of at least 30 beats per minute within 10 minutes of standingDo not confuse with
Orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure on standingSpecialty
Cardiology, neurology, primary care
What each word in POTS means
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Postural | Related to body position |
| Orthostatic | Caused by standing upright (ortho means straight, static means standing) |
| Tachycardia | A fast heart rate (tachy means fast, cardia means heart) |
| Syndrome | A group of symptoms that occur together |
Put together, it describes a group of symptoms in which an upright posture brings on a fast heartbeat. The word fainting is linked with it in many people's minds, but most people with POTS feel faint without actually passing out.
How the POTS medical abbreviation is confirmed
Diagnosis usually rests on measuring heart rate and blood pressure lying down and then standing, either on a tilt table that raises the body upright or with a simple active stand test in clinic. Commonly used adult criteria are a sustained heart rate rise of at least 30 beats per minute within ten minutes of standing, or 40 or more for people aged 12 to 19, without a significant drop in blood pressure, along with symptoms that have gone on for several months.
Clinicians also check for other causes of a fast heart rate, such as dehydration, anemia, thyroid problems, medicine side effects or heart rhythm disorders, before settling on POTS. Labs and clinics may use slightly different protocols.
Reading POTS in a chart
Cardiology assessment: "POTS confirmed on tilt table, HR rise of 42 bpm at 6 min without orthostatic hypotension. Plan: increase fluid and salt intake, compression garments, graded exercise program." HR is heart rate and bpm is beats per minute. The note records the test result and a typical first line management plan.
Orthostatic vital signs, the lying and standing measurements behind the diagnosis, may also appear in nursing flowsheets as a series of BP and heart rate readings in different positions.
POTS compared with similar conditions
| Condition | Main change on standing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| POTS | Large heart rate rise, blood pressure holds | Symptoms last for months |
| Orthostatic hypotension | Blood pressure falls by about 20 over 10 or more | Common in older adults and with some medicines |
| Vasovagal syncope | Sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure | Often brief fainting with a trigger |
| SVT | Fast rhythm that starts suddenly in any position | An electrical rhythm problem, not a postural one |
Telling these apart matters because the management differs. Heart rhythm monitoring may be used to rule out a rhythm disorder.
Living with POTS: general approaches
Management is usually built around several steps rather than one fix. Many plans include extra fluids and salt when appropriate, compression stockings or abdominal binders, a gradual exercise program that often starts with lying down or seated exercise, and attention to triggers such as heat, long standing and large meals. Some people are prescribed medicines that support blood volume or slow the heart rate. The combination is tailored to each patient and any other diagnoses.
Symptoms often improve with time and treatment. The diagnosis abbreviations hub lists related heart and nerve terms.
Questions worth asking
- Which test confirmed POTS, and what were the numbers?
- Have other causes of a fast heart rate been ruled out?
- How much fluid and salt is right for me, given my other conditions?
- What kind of exercise program should I start with?
Consider this background reading on a diagnosis term. Your own care team should guide any changes in fluids, salt, exercise or medicines, since the right plan differs from person to person.
Frequently asked questions
What is the medical term for POTS?
The full medical term is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. It is also called postural tachycardia syndrome and is grouped under dysautonomia.
What heart rate counts as POTS?
In adults, the common standard is a rise of at least 30 beats per minute within ten minutes of standing, without a large drop in blood pressure. For ages 12 to 19 the usual threshold is 40 beats per minute.
Is POTS a heart condition?
The heart itself is usually structurally normal. POTS is a problem with how the autonomic nervous system controls heart rate and blood flow when upright, though cardiologists often diagnose and manage it.
Is POTS the same as fainting?
No. Many people with POTS feel faint or lightheaded but do not pass out. Fainting, called syncope, can occur in POTS but is more typical of other conditions such as vasovagal syncope.